Republican Trump attacks rivals' alliance as 'pathetic'

By Steve Holland WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Reuters) – Republican Donald Trump amped up attacks against rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich on Monday after they announced an agreement to try to block the New York billionaire from winning the party’s U.S. presidential nomination. Trump is expected to sweep the five states holding primary elections on Tuesday, prompting Cruz and Kasich to announce their unusual tactic of agreeing not to compete against each other in Indiana, New Mexico and Oregon. In a sign that Cruz has no intention of backing out of the race before the July convention in Cleveland, his campaign manger Jeff Roe posted on Twitter on Monday that they had narrowed the search for a vice presidential running mate to a “short list” and were vetting potential candidates.